The Indianapolis journal., 1887-09-26
LYNCH LAW In INDIANA
The White Caps an Outgrowth of the
Knights of the Golden Circle Order.
A Brief History of the Organization and It's
Outrageous Acts-A Remarkable Record
of Lawlessness and Crime.
,rrespondence st. Louis Chronicle.

CoRYDoN, Ind. Sept. 2I-Anyone with con-
eeption Of the romantic, seeing this country
Tor the first time would picture it as the home
Of bandits There is probably other locality
covering the same in the United States 80
prolific OF natural freaks and attractions the
counties OF Harrison, Crawford. Orange and
Martin.
From Wyandotte cave, few miles down the
river from here. to the noted cave in Orange
county where "traitor" Bunch met his death at
the hands of the Archer boys, there known
to be twenty nine in all
wyandotte has been explored for over mile,
but has pot yet yislded up ali its secrets Then
there is a cave of winds near Paoli which
has ever had the hardihood to enter. Out of its
long, narrow entrance pours unceasing draft
of cold wind that would be fortuneto any sum-
mer-resort landlord But straneest of all is Lost
river, which suddenly dashes out of sight into a
cave. and then follows its suOterranean channel
tor twelve miles, appearing at the surface four
times in that distance, as if for air Some times
1t can be heard roaring ten or twelve feet under
the surface of the ground. AT other places
soundings of several hundred feet have failed TO
reach its channel. Stampers creek plays SIM
ilar prank, only on a smaller scale.
There are but few railroads, and it is only in
the last year that the county seats of Harrison
and Orange counties could be reached by train,
and no locomotive whistle has ever disturbed
the citizens of Leavenworth. the county seat of
Crawford.
There is but one pike in all that territory, and
that winds its tortuous way over knobs that
sometimes 800 or 400 feet high and shaped very
much like an eauilateral triangle, with the sides
fully as steep.
There are no mud roads. although they would
be a blessing, but there numerous clay and
sand thoroughfares the clay being about the
consistency of pitch and as hard to get off when
dry. For this reason, mainly. the mode of llv-
ing of these people has generally remained
locked MP in their hills. and many of the deeds
pf raj nd
izations known as the White Caps have never
been made known. Certain it is that there are
never any prosecutions l said to Sheriff Craig.
OF Orange county:
II cannot understand why you do not prose-
cute all such offenders"
Simply because witnesses be found to
testify" be replied 'The people are afraid to
testify. For twenty years the most lawless men
have run this county and the grand jury was
poweress, so that it was not until the people or
ganized law and order league and swung
half dozen to the limbs of the trees that
the laws could be enforced. But the people do
not care TO testify against the White Caps. They
are really afraid"
"Why do not these victims appeal to the State
authorities for protectionl"
such appeals have been made. but what
good do they do2 The State says, go home and
tell your county authorities TO help you If they
are powerless, and will so notify u.s. we will
eend a militia company to their aid That al
for instance He appealed for aid TO the Gov
ernor. and is now living in New Albany because
II would not be safe for him to return to his old
home. If we were to arrest any one under sus-
picon Of being one of his assaiants, his friends
would prove an alibi"
AS the Nasseau case the first to call pub
lie attention TO the White Caps. and, it has
never been correctly explained. will here give
the facts: Up to two years ago John e. Nassau
was one of the best respected citizens of Craw-
ford county. and owned valuable farm near
Marengo. He was then supposed to be promi-
nent member of the Knights Of the Switch,
body of regulators similar to the White Caps
D. rs%L y e.
tanned a divorce.
He admired John Towers's wife. and she re-
turning the admiration secured a divorce from
her husband, Nasseau furnishing her with the
money, and then they married.
The people of Marengo and vicinity regarded
this rank immortality and subjected Nassau
the country. He remained on his farm. how
ever, occasionally visiting his divorced wife and
remaining over night with her.
This was the straw that fractured the drome-
dary's spine. Nasseau and his wife were
notified to leave take whipping a certain
night. Now, Nasseau is a stalwart yeoman, and
has brother Henry of the same style of arch
iIecture Mrs. Nassau weighs 2l0 pounds, and
her fighting weight is twenty-four ounces the
pound. So Mr.. and Mrs Nasseau invited Henry
to spend the evening with them to helD entertain
the White Cans. Henry came, and they all
secreted heavy hickory wagon stakes in the
house.
About midnight twenty men in white caps and
white masks called. The door promptly
opened at their knock. and they filed into the
dark room Then the battle began. For fifteen
minutes there a sound of crashing clubs,
intermineled with occasional flash and crack of
n revolver. The White Caps fed, leaving seven
of their number on the floor. Henry Nassau
was dangerously shot through the hips. but John
and his Amazon wife were unhurt These two
mounted guard over their prisoners, and as fast
one regained consciousness he put to
sleep with crack the skull Mrs. Nassau
afterwards declared that it was "more fun than
q protracted meetin."
About two hours later body of men came to
the house. claiming 20 be officers, and arrested
the conquered White Caps, but they were never
heard of again. The local authorities, although
knowing full well who the regulators are, took
no action in the matter. Nassau and his wife
fed TO New Albany, and they value their
lives, will never return to Marengo.
The Governor was waited upon by John E.
Nassau. who asked protection. but nothing
ever came of it, Henry Nasseau is not yet we'll
This all occurred in July.
In half a days ride over the country this
morning heard Of these cases. all occurring
recently, and every one of which can be vouched
for was ostensibly a teacher hunting aschool,
and the people did not hesitate to talk.
On a lane leading off the main road at point
between Valley City and New Middleton. there
lived. until very lately. two sisters. Martha and
Jennie Brown. They had little frame house
and lived entirely alone. One is about thirty,
the other twenty FIVE, and both quite comely,
but had the reputation OF being unchaste.
One night about September 9 or 10.
they were tied to fence and
whipped with green beech branches until the
blood streamed down their bare backs. Three
days later they left. My informant is old
woman who dressed their wounds. Yet You can
scarcely get anyone in that neighborhood to
knowledge that they ever heard of two women
being whipped by the White Caps. and when
they do make the Acknowledgment they speak
of 1t as an old and vague legend. Nevertheless,
1t occurred just stated
About three weeks ago John William Trotter
was lashed at Marengo for not providing for his
sick wife He evidently needed every lash.
Sam Gray went to Marengo to collect a bill, .
got drunk and used language in addressing the
debtor that was very unpleasing to the Maren-
goites. and that night the White Cappers tied
him TO a tree and gave him twenty ,asnes the
next day no was arrested and fined
Newton Mohr was whipped so hard the night
or the Iuth near Green Briar that the whip cut
into the flesh a half an inch. | saw seven such
Fashas. He was charged with being too tardy
In paying his debts
Seven White Caps attempted to chastise man
named Raille, near English, because as he
claims, be refused to loan a neigh Dor some seed
wheat. He resisted so thoroughly that they de-